Psychometric modeling of abuse and dependence symptoms across six illicit substances indicates novel dimensions of misuse
Shaunna L Clark, Nathan A Gillespie, Daniel E Adkins, Kenneth S Kendler, Michael C Neale. (2016). “Psychometric modeling of abuse and
dependence symptoms across six illicit substances indicates novel dimensions of misuse.”
Addictive Behaviors, 53(2): 132-140.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.addbeh.2015.10.015
AIMS:
This study explored the factor structure of DSM III-R/IV symptoms for substance abuse
and dependence across six illicit substance categories in a population-based sample
of males.
METHOD:
DSM III-R/IV drug abuse and dependence symptoms for cannabis, sedatives, stimulants,
cocaine, opioids and hallucinogens from 4179 males born 1940-1970 from the population-based
Virginia Adult Twin Study of Psychiatric and Substance Use Disorders were analyzed.
Confirmatory factor analyses tested specific hypotheses regarding the latent structure
of substance misuse for a comprehensive battery of 13 misuse symptoms measured across
six illicit substance categories (78 items).
RESULTS:
Among the models fit, the latent structure of substance misuse was best represented
by a combination of substance-specific factors and misuse symptom-specific factors.
We found no support for a general liability factor to illicit substance misuse.
CONCLUSIONS:
Results indicate that liability to misuse illicit substances is drug class specific,
with little evidence for a general liability factor. Additionally, unique dimensions
capturing propensity toward specific misuse symptoms (e.g., tolerance, withdrawal)
across substances were identified. While this finding requires independent replication,
the possibility of symptom-specific misuse factors, present in multiple substances,
raises the prospect of genetic, neurobiological and behavioral predispositions toward
distinct, narrowly defined features of drug abuse and dependence.